Laryngectomic shield



Aug. 12, 1952 C. M. TAINTOR LARYNGECTOMIC SHIELD Filed Aug. 16, 1950 Patented Aug. 12, 1952 UNITED STATES OFFICE LARYNGEC'romo "SHIELD: u Charles M. Taintor, l n "Application Angustia, 195o,se1-ia1iNo..179,s5s u l' 4 claims. (c1. 12s-#iriakv v l' I This invention relates `to a shield to be Worn after a laryngectomy as a protective covering over the neck opening left for breathing purposes by this operation. The great convenience of my shield is that it maintains a free air passageway after prolonged use by the wearer.

Persons suffering from chronic laryngitis frequently undergo a laryngectomy in which the larynx or voice box situated at the top'of the trachea is completely removed. In this operation, the normal passage from the nostrils to the windpipe is surgically sealed off and an open hole is left in the suprasternal notch. This hole connects with the Windpipe and provides the air necessary for breathing.

Much difficulty is encountered by the laryngectomee in protecting his outer garments from the mucus which normally lubricates the larynx cords and is forcibly ejected from the open hole. I solve this difficulty by providing a protective covering of an absorption material consisting of gauze, cheesecloth or the like held by a rigid shield member in proximity to but not touching the neck opening. This shield is formed to comfortably t the wearer and is quickly and easily positioned by a resilient tab with a slot'which slips over the top shirt button or the like.

I have discovered that by holding the absorption material slightly removed from the neck opening my device can effectively function over a prolonged period of time because mucus is readily absorbed and the air passageway remains unobstructed. =Otherwise there is a tendency for the absorption material to cling to the opening and thus allow mucus to accumulate in the trachea. This reduces the air supply below-that required for normal activity by the laryngectomee.

Further advantages of this invention may readily be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing which shows an illustrative example of my specification.

Fig. 1 is a front view showing the shield in position over the neck opening; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a front view of this invention; Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 3; Figs. 5 and 6 are horizontal sectional views taken on lines 5-5 and 6--6 respectively of Fig. 3 and show diminishing curvature of the shield.

-Shield II) consists of a solid piece of plastic in the general form of a scoop which gradually attens so that edge I2 is only slightly curved. A multi-ply covering of sterile gauze I4 a-ixed by any suitable means to approximately three quarters of the inside surface of shield I0 provides the pad necessaryfor mucus absorption. Resilient tab I6 mounted on shield I0 has a slot I8 adapted to fit over the wearers top shirt button and hold the shield in position over the neck opening.

'(Dbviously ,a widev variety ofystructures may be used to. hold the absorption material in proximity to but not touching the neck opening, but I'find that the preferred structure shown is the most comfortable and efficient. To place the shield in position slot I8 is easily and conveniently slipped over the top shirt button. This holds the shield with the slightly curved edge I2 iitted comforttably against the base of the neck. At this end, corners of the shield are diagonally cut to avoid interference with normal neck movement. Side edges 2B follow the natural contour of the body and are held snugly against the chest by resilient tab IS and the slight pressure exerted by the wearers shirt and tie. In the preferred form of my invention, tab I6 consists of a narrow strip of resilient material. One end is secured to the shields mid-section with the slotted end extending adjacent to the shield and over its central top portion. Thus, when slot I8 is fitted over a supporting button on the wearers outer garment, the resilient tab member tends to assist in holding shield side edges 20 against the body.

Any suitable material may be used in forming the rigid shield but the important thing is that it be impervious to the mucus so that even if the absorption material becomes saturated, adequate protection of the wearers outer garments is still provided. A'sheet of plastic is light and excellently adapted for this purpose.

With the shield held as described, I find that a substantial portion of the air used for breathing enters under the curved open end portion of the shield and in passing over the wearers body there is a tendency for this air to be heated and filtered. This is highly important to the laryngectomee, whose trachea becomes painfully inflamed by dust particles or air which is at a temperature below 50 F. In addition, the area between the shield and the body is sufficiently large so as not to increase admixture of exhaled carbon dioxide gas with inhaled atmospheric air over that normally experienced when the shield is not in use.

It will be understood that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the pref erred embodiment of the invention herein chosen for the purpose of illustration which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. A shield with an absorption pad in the general form of a scoop which gradually fiattens to form a substantially plane surface at one end portion, said shield adapted to be positioned on the wearers body over the neck opening left by a laryngectomy with such end portion fitted against the neck and with its side edges fitted against the chest and means for holding the shield whereby the mucus forcibly ejected from said opening is collected.

the tab consists of a narrow resilient strip of mafl. terial with one end portion secured at the shields mid-section, Iand with the slotted end. extended to the central top portion of said shield in exible 10 relationship thereto whereby the'tab whentted over a supporting button on the wearers garment assists in holding the shield side edges against the Wearers body.

4. A shield with an absorption pad adapted to 15 t over the neck openingv leftV by ailaryngectomy and to hcld said pad? in vproximity tovbutnot touching the opening and said shield having a tab with a slot in one end portion positioned to t over a supporting button on the Wearers garment whereby themucus which is forcibly ejected from lsuch" an opening. is collected'.

CHARLES M. TAIN'TOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 662,150 McCormick Nov. 20, 1900 861,436 Courtney: July 30, 1907 y u 9017861 Green Dec.v 29',l 1908 Rober-ts Aug. 13, 1946 

